2 sentenced in slaying of Oceanside teen

Two men convicted of manslaughter in the stabbing death of an Oceanside teenager last year were sentenced Tuesday to prison terms.

Juan Zurita, 19, and Francisco Barajas, 22, both pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and allegations that they acted for the benefit of a gang. Zurita also admitted to using a deadly weapon in the crime — a knife.

Zurita was sentenced in Vista Superior Court to 22 years in prison. Barajas was sentenced to 21 years. They had been charged in the death of 16-year-old Javier Luna.

Prosecutors said the attack on Javier happened Jan. 29, 2013, at Center Avenue and Division Street in the Crown Heights neighborhood.

An 18-year-old witness testified at a preliminary hearing that he saw a group of people run toward Javier, who tried to flee. They disappeared around a corner.

The witness said he ran to help and saw Zurita with a bloody knife in his hand. Javier collapsed and the attackers ran away.

Javier’s family has said he was not a gang member, but the witness testified that Javier was.

Oceanside police have said the fatal stabbing was retaliation for graffiti left in a rival gang neighborhood.